Ebuyer faces winding up petition

A regional PC and gaming retailer fights for its future as a winding up petition could lead to liquidation.

East Yorkshire firm Ebuyer faces winding up petition from landlord

East Yorkshire online retailer Ebuyer has been issued with a winding up petition by its landlord Urban Logistics Acquisitions 6 Limited. The business, which has employed as many as 200 people, now faces a legal challenge that could lead to liquidation if the matter is not resolved.

Trading data for 2023 show turnover down from £174.2m to £136.5m and an operating loss of £1.8m. The company was sold in 2023 for £26m to Realtime Holdings, a move that was framed at the time as unlocking growth potential, including plans to expand into the EU and strengthen PC and gaming product lines.

Cost cutting reduced headcount by 50 in 2023 as part of aligning costs with the smaller turnover. Ebuyer sells a wide range of digital technology equipment online and also works with partners including Chelsea FC, Pretty Little Thing and Wren Kitchens. The landlord action follows a broader pattern of distress in mid sized online retailers during a period of higher living costs and tighter credit.

The petition exposes how mid size online retailers can be exposed to landlord leverage and debt pressures even when they have a visible market presence. The move comes amid a weak consumer mood and a tighter lending environment, factors that can push talk of restructuring into formal action. It also highlights the fragility of regional employers in sectors tied to technology hardware and consumer spend.

For East Yorkshire, the case tests local resilience as it could affect jobs, supplier relationships, and the broader tech retail ecosystem. The outcome will shape how investors view store and warehouse based retail assets in the region and whether lenders favor quick liquidation or a structured rescue. The broader lesson is clear: growth plans count for little if the ground beneath you shifts with cost pressures and credit crunches.

Highlights

The path forward will reveal how much a regional retailer can survive in a tightening market.